Joe DeRenzo

Joseph Peter DeRenzo (born November 1, 1958) is an American jazz drummer, composer and producer. He is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

DeRenzo has worked with Nile's Project to help stop MRSA through public awareness concerts featuring his Beatles tribute band Joe DeRenzo & Friends, a jazzy tribute to The Beatles.

Biography 1958-70 DeRenzo was born and raised in Orange County, California, and resided in the city of Anaheim and in what is now known as Anaheim Hills for the early part of his life through 1970. It was during these years that his interest in music began by way of his dad's record collection which included the LPs of Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Louie Bellson and Boots Randolph. While attending St. Catherine's Military Academy from 1964 through 1966, the sound of the drums from the cadet marching band served as the inspiration for DeRenzo to fashion his first pair of drumsticks in his uncle's garage. "Thanks to the Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, Ringo Starr was probably the first drummer that made an impression on me."

By the mid- to late 1960s, AM and FM radio begin to provide the alternative soundtrack to his expanding musical awareness with pop bands such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Lovin Spoonful. Intrigued by the cover art of, most notably Jimi Hendrix's Are You Experienced? and Cream's Disraeli Gears, DeRenzo begins his fascination with late 1960s Pop-Art including Peter Max posters, scarves and school notebooks. Using his friend's copy of the In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida LP as a practice pad, he woodsheds to the Ron Bushy psychedelic opus and drum solo virtually destroying the cover in the process.

January 2005, DeRenzo records his first CD entitled "Of Night and Day" with longtime friend and jazz pianist Tom Zink. On the project is founding Yellowjackets members Russell Ferrante and Jimmy Haslip. This release is followed up in January 2006 with the recording of "Core Beliefs" which included Bob Mintzer and Brian Hughes. March 16, 2007, ESC Records releases "Dante's View" which is a compilation of "Of Night and Day" and "Core Beliefs". November 2007, ESC Records releases "Step Inside LOVE, a jazzy tribute to The Beatles which features DeRenzo's recording of She's A Woman from "Core Beliefs".

June 2009, Anne Walsh and Tom Zink release the "Pretty World" CD which includes lyrics penned by DeRenzo for the compositions of Pat Metheny "So May It Secretly Begin", Keith Jarrett "My Song" and Don Grolnick "Pools".

December 3, 2009, DeRenzo is informed that Tom Zink is nominated for a Grammy in the Arranging Category for his arrangement of "In The Still Of The Night" from the "Pretty World" CD.

2010-2015 Author Walter Kolosky commissions DeRenzo to design the book cover for Follow Your Heart: John McLaughlin - song by song. The listener's guide is published by Abstract Logix Books on November 1, 2010.

September 2011, Anne Walsh and Tom Zink release the "Go" CD which includes lyrics penned by DeRenzo for the composition of Wayne Shorter "Go".

Influences Music and Drums: Beatles, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul, Keith Jarrett, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette, Peter Erskine, Billy Cobham, Lenny White, John Guerin, Steve Gadd, Airto.

Authors: Leonard Peikoff, Ayn Rand, Christopher Hitchens, Camille Paglia.

Discography Dante's View (ESC, 2007)